Tabu
2012 · Movie · NR · 120 min · ★ 7.0 · 83% critics
In present-day Lisbon, a quiet, devout woman tries to look after her volatile elderly neighbor, whose gambling and paranoia hint at a buried history. As the neighbor’s health fails, a final request sets off a search that opens the door to a long-ago chapter shaped by memory, longing, and regret.
Where to watch
Streaming on MUBI and Kino Film Collection.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2012
- Release date
- 2012-04-05
- Language
- Portuguese
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Critic score
- 83/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.0/10 (177 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you’re up for a poetic, two-part drama that shifts from everyday Lisbon to a remembered past, prioritizing atmosphere over plot; Not for you if you need fast pacing or clear answers, like in Paterson.
Pros: haunting mood; striking black-and-white look; romantic, dreamlike storytelling | Cons: slow first half; unconventional structure; can feel distant
Themes
- crocodile
- lisbon, portugal
- plantation
- haunted by the past
- neighbor neighbor relationship
- east africa
- portuguese colonialism
Awards & recognition
- Golden Globe (Portugal) — Best Film
- Prémio Autores
- Sophia Awards
- Lux Prize · 2012 · nominated
Cast & crew
Teresa Madruga
as Pilar
Laura Soveral
as Aurora
Ana Moreira
as Young Aurora
Henrique Espírito Santo
as Gian Luca Ventura
Carloto Cotta
as Young Gian Luca Ventura
Isabel Cardoso
as Santa
Ivo Müller
as Aurora's Husband
- MM
Manuel Mesquita
as Mário
Telmo Churro
as Intrepid Explorer
Miguel Gomes
as Narrator (voice)
Directed by Miguel Gomes